Once upon a time in a small village nestled in the rolling hills, there lived a young girl named Elara. Elara was a kind, generous, and hard working girl.
She spent her days tending to the animals on her family's farm, helping her mother with household chores, and exploring the lush forests that surrounded their village. Despite the hardships that often came with living in a small, rural community, Elara always had a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone she met. She had her heart out for sewing, she loved it with everything she had.
One day, Elara and her family celebrated a birthday party used to remember their daughter every year for the past 16 years since the day she was kidnapped after birth. Their family never lost hope but, Elara was already getting fed up with the birthday parties held every year for her sister.
She understood the importance of honoring her sister's memory, but Elara couldn't help feeling like it was holding their family back from moving on. She longed for a sense of normalcy, for the pain of their loss to fade into the background and for their family to focus on creating new memories together.
As the party went on, Elara found herself slipping away from the festivities. As it was always the same every year, she got angry and went to her room to make drawings of dresses as she has always wanted to be a seamstress.
She then heard a knock on her window, she looked and it was her best friend Ethan. Ethan had always been there for her, through thick and thin. He knew just how to make her smile, even on her darkest days. As she opened the window, he greeted her with a warm smile and a bouquet of her favorite flowers, "For my lady" said Ethan. She couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence in her life. "Thank you my good man" Elara said, as they both laughed. "I knew you would be here, why do you always run away from your sister's party" asked Ethan. "She's not here and yet they always throw a party every year, I understand that they are trying to remember her but it won't bring her back" Elara said "I know Lara but she's your sister and they are your family, at least could you just try to be happy" said Ethan "I'm happy now that you are here" Elara said with a smile on her face.
Together, they sat on her bed and talked for some while, reminiscing about old memories and sharing their hopes for the future. Ethan's unwavering support and understanding made her feel like everything would be okay.
Then Ethan suggested they go to their favorite spot by the river to get away from it all, as they made their way to the spot, Ethan could already feel the tension starting to melt away. When they arrived Elara continued on her drawings and Ethan practiced with his bow and arrow. As they settled into their familiar routine, the sounds of nature surrounded them, providing a sense of peace and tranquility. The gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind, the soothing babble of the river nearby, and the occasional chirping of birds all contributed to the serene atmosphere.
Ethan focused on his archery practice, feeling a sense of calm wash over him with each arrow he released. The repetitive motion helped clear his mind and allowed him to fully immerse himself in the present moment. Elara, on the other hand, found solace in her drawings, using her creativity as a form of expression and release.
Together, they found comfort in each other's presence and in the simple pleasures of nature. As they spent hours at their favorite spot by the river, all worries and stresses seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of contentment and connection with the world around them. In that moment, they were able to truly escape from it all and find peace within themselves.
Some while after, they heard some noises coming from the distance and decided to check it out, as they approached the place they stayed at a distance and watched, they saw a man with a sword about to kill a boy, and an old woman begging the man to stop. Elara's heart raced as she witnessed the horrible scene, Without hesitation, she knew she had to intervene to save the boy's life. As quietly as possible, strategizing how best to distract the man with the sword and rescue the boy.
She picked up a rock and looked at Ethan, and they both nodded at each other it was as if they were in each others minds planning what to do, they knew they had to act quickly before it was too late. As Elara was about to throw the rock she hesitated for a while and got lost in her thoughts, and before she knew it the man killed the boy and left, and she came out of her thoughts, she covered her mouth and started crying, as the old lady was also crying, Ethan went to her and said "hey, its not your fault okay" as he was consoling her someone from behind touched him and said "you guys need to leave, before you get killed" as Ethan looked around, he didn't remember which route they took as they seemed to be lost.
Ethan said "Um I don't think I remember where we came through" the stranger paused and said "follow me" he hesitated from a while then the stranger said "you coming?" and then he picked Elara up from where she sat down crying and said "we have to go". They followed the stranger to a small cottage where he stayed, alone. He gave them water and asked where they were coming from and Ethan said "from wiskvill" the stranger said "you guys aren't lost it is barely a mile away, just keep heading straight till you find the river" then Ethan said "thank you sir" as they were about leaving Elara came out of her thought and asked "what happened out there?", the man paused and said " I didn't know you guys saw that, never you bother, you are just a kid, and don't go about tell people what you saw if not, they would come for you" Elara asked again " who are they?" The man didn't say anything Ethan said "lets go lara, its already getting late", she hesitated and stared at the man where he was seated for a bit and then they left.
Not long after, they finally reached their spot by the river, and as they were packing the stuff they brought Elara asked Ethan "what do you think that man meant when he said 'they'? who are 'they'? Why did that man kill that little boy after the old woman begged? And do you think the man who helped us find our way is working for them?" Ethan then said "woah slow down lara, I'm as shocked as you are, let's just forget it ever happened, and head home don't forget it's Clara's birthday today" "Clara!!! I have to be home before the guests leave else my mother would kill me" exclaimed Elara "right hurry home I'll drop your books off, when I'm done packing" said Ethan "thanks Ethan you're the best"
Elara hurried home as she got home she couldn't use the front door as her parents were already greeting the guests goodbye. She decided to get in through her room's window and pretend to be asleep all this while, but as she got in through the window her mother was already in her room. "Where were you Elara?" Her mother said angrily "I have been with Ethan since ma" said Elara, her mother sighed and went closer to her, holding her hands she said "I know you don't like dwelling in the past baby I know but, we just have to have fate its a small village someone is bound to recognise her with her baby drawings, you know news do spread fast" Elara rolled her eyes and said "I know ma fate". Her father walked in holding a book and said "I know its your sister's birthday today but I got you this" "a book" Elara said, then her father said "I know its not much, but I also know how you can get, so instead of running out like that, or anytime you get angry, or have anything to say and you can't let it out, write it here" Elara took the book seeing how thoughtful it was and said "thank you baba" as her father left.
It came time for bed and as Elara was about to sleep she couldn't help but remember what she saw early that day in the forest, she jumped out of bed and got the book her father gave her and wrote on it *Mystery to solve: Find out who 'they' are*